Cornice construction



May 29. 192s.-

S. SMILEY, JR

CORNICE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 29, 1928 Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES PAT N OFFICE. T

SAMUEL SMILEY, JR., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, QASSIGNORLTO THE GLOBE+WERNIOKE COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A- CORPORATION 01' OHIO.

cosmos cons'rnucrron.

' Application filed February 29, 1928. Serial No. 258,063.

This invention relates to sheet metal structures adapted to be used as partitions in ofiice buildings, banks, etc, or in other types of structure, if desired.

5 The particular portion of'the sheet metal partitions or walls, which is the immediate subject ofthis invention, is the cornice or top of the partition. Under normal conditions, this cornice will be placed immediate against the ceiling of the space being partitioned, but when used in a bank or other office which is several stories high the partitioning may not extend to the ceiling, in which case the cornice serves as atop or terminus of the vertical partitions.

The particular portion of the cornice which presents the problems to which this invention is responsive is that portion at which individualfsections of cornice join each other.- The-cornice in question is constructed of sheet metal bent into a hollow structure with an ornamental outline. These sections of cornice may be of variable length, depending on the environment of the par- 5 ticular piece eof cornice, and. it is difi'icult to join these hollow structures securely together end to end so that the sheet metal edges meet and align to form a junction which is even and presents a neat appearance to the observer. e 1

The object of this invention, therefore, is

. to provide sections of sheet metal cornice adapted to be joined together securely and evenly.

Otherwise expressed, the object of this invention is to provide means for securing'sections of sheet metal cornice securely together so that the edges of the sheet metal meet in alignment and present a neat appearance.

Further objects and advantages will be more fully set forth. in a description of theaccompanying 'drawings,.. forming a part of this specification,in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of sect-ions of cornice joined together. g i

V Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line E2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 isa sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 2.

The cornice shown herein comprises side pieces 1 which are provided with inwardly turned flanges 2 at the top, and inwardly turned flanges 3- at the bottom These cornice side pieces are preferably shaped ornamentally according to the style desired for the contemplated usef a On top of the inwardly turned flanges 3 at the bottom of the side pieces is welded a bottom or connectingplate 4. The bottom plate is formed upwardly to provide a square channel '0 centrally along the underside of the cornice, this channel extendinglongitudinallyot the cornice and providing for a mating connection with the top flanges of a partition wall indicated at 6.

Betweenthe inwardly turned flanges at the top of the side pieces extend strips 7 which space the side pieces at the top and reinforce the structure. Adjacent to the end 'of and within each section of cornice a U- shaped member 8 is secured within thehollow cornice by welding the arms 9 of the same to the side pieces. Each U shaped member comprises the arms 9 which are 'welded to the inside of the side pieces, and

have ofl'set portions 10 extending parallel to the walls of thecornice but slightly spaced therefrom, and a cross portionflor base 11 of the U-shaped member which extends at right angles tothe side frames between the arms Therefore, when the two sections of cornice are disposed end to end, the bottomsof the U of each cornice face each other and are a slight distance apart. j I

I Clampingmeans comprising screws 12 extend' through apertures in, the bottoms of these U-shaped' elements, andthe cornices are drawn together by means of nuts 13 which are tightened to clamp' the bases of the U-shaped elements together until the sheet metal cornice, ends abut tightly. This structure is, therefore, adapted to secure the cornice sections tightly and securely gether. However, sheet emetal is always flexible and apt tobe distorted, and it is impossible to make any two sections of cornice so exactly alike that the edges of the sheet metal meet and align perfectly over the entire extent of the cornice. The bot-tom plates being of heavier metal fit very well together, but there is a tendency for the upper portions of the side pieces to flex 1n such wise that they do not meet withthe accuracy which is necessary for a neat and workmanllke ob.

According to this invention, alignment plates or braces 14 are provided at the junction of. the side pieces which align the upper portions of the side pieces with each other very accurately. These plates or braces in the structure disclosed, are substantially vertically disposed oneiin each space or slot 15 formed between the adjacent offset arm portions of the opposing U-shaped. members.

Horizontal flal'lges 16 areiormed at the upper ends of the plates and the downwardly extending anchorageportions 17 are slightly angled or bowed so that pressure against the angled portion imparts a spring action to the plates and flexibly wedges the outer ends of the flanges 16 against the adjoining end portions of the cornice inner side Walls. The flanges 16 being disposed across the juncture of the cornice ends, and creating a fairly wide contact due to the width of the plates, outward pressure on these plates tends to align the end edges of the side pieces neatly against the flanges. The alignment plates 14 are pressed outwardly against the walls of the side pieces by means of wedges 18 which are inserted between the ofi'set sides of the U-shapcd members and the plates 14:. 3 a

The alignment plates are so large that they cannot be inserted in the slots after the two sections of cornice are secured together, and each plate is consequently disposed in the slot in one of the sections before the two sections are joined together and is afterwards slid over so as to span the plane of junction of the sections, after which the wedge, which is wider than the plate but not as high, is forced in between th'eplate and the sides of the U-shaped members, one of a which is at the end of each cornicesection.

The wedges 18 are formed of sheet plate and have a flange 19 turned at right angles from their upper edges; When the wedges are inserted during use the flangesextend inwardly and form a ledgei'or ease ofinsertion and a finger hold for extraction. The lower edges of the wedges are sharpened as at QOso as to be readily inserted into their wedging positions.

It is to be noted that where desired, it is possible to use only one-half of the structure above described, that is, wherebut one side of the cornice section is to be visible but onehalfof the structure need be used, in which case the U-shaped members are L-shaped rather than U-shaped. In other words, where but one side of the cornice is to be [seen it is possible and economical to" use a structure which is equivalent to that portion of: the structure disclosed appearing on one sections longitudinally.

.tions and 'slot between the side wall and the member running-parallel thereto, said brace adapted to overlap the adjoining section of cornice to hold the edges in alignment after the cornice sections are joined, and locking means adapted to secure that portion of the member which runs at right angles to the side wall to the next adjacent section of cornice. I

2. A sheet metal pltu'ality oi individual hollow cornice sections, a U-shaped member within and adjacent to the end of each individual section with the bottom of the U facing the bottom of the U of the adjacentsection, and locking means disposed between said Ushaped member to hold said sectlons securely together.

sheet metal cornice, comprising'pa pluralityof, hollow cornice sections, means for-holding the ends of said sections securely together, and braces spanning the planes of junction of the two sections to hold the sheet metal walls of the cornice in alignment. 1

4. A sheet metal cornice, comprising, a plurality of sections of hollow cornice, each section provided terminally with means for securing it to the next section, with the ends of the sheet metal abutting-the-ends of the sheet metal of the'adjacent section, braces disposed on the inside oflsaidcornicesecadapted to bear against the side walls of each section to align the sheet metal walls of each section, and wedgesbearing against'said braces to secure th same In position. V e i 51A sheet metal cornice, comprising, a plurality of sections of cornice, each provided terminally with means for securing it v cornice, comprisi g, i

to the next adjacent section, and wedges'disposed between saidmeans and the side walls of the cornice to align,

tionl said side walls of r each cornice with those of the adjacent sec- 6. A sheet .metal cornice, comprising, a I

plurality of: individual hollow" sections, a U-shaped member within and adjacent to the end of each individualsection with the bottom of the U facing the bottom of the U side of a vertical plane bisecting the cornice of the adjacent section, locking means dis posed between said U-shaped members to hold said sections securely together, and braces disposed between said U shaped memhers and the side walls of the cornice at each plane in which the cornice sections meet to align the ends of said side Walls.

7. A sheet metal cornice, comprising, a plurality of hollow cornice sections, members adjacent to the ends of each section at right angles to the ends thereof, means for holding said members together to unite the sections, braces spanning the planes of unct-ion of the two sections to hold the sheet metal walls of the cornice in alignment, and wedges pressing said braces against the side walls of the cornice.

8. A sheet metal cornice, comprising, a plurality of sections of cornice, each section providedterminally with means for securing it to the next section, said means comprising members disposed within the cornice sections adjacent to the ends there of, said members running parallel to the walls thereof but spaced therefrom to provide slots open at the ends of the section, said member also extending at right angles to the cornice walls, braces disposed on the inside of said cornice sections within said slots and adapted to bear against the side walls of each section to align the sheet metal Walls of each section, and wedges bearing against said braces to secure the same in position.

9. A device for aligning the side walls of joined sect-ions of hollow metal cornice, comprising, a plate anchored within the base interior of the adjoining cornice sections, said plate overlapping the cornice adjoining ends and the upper end thereof engaging and adapted to align the respective adjoining section inner upper side walls, and means for securing said plate in its aligning position.

10. A device for aligning adjoining side walls of joined cornice sections, comprising, a plate anchored within the inner adjoining base portions of the cornice sections and overlying the juncture thereof, the upper edge of said plate" engaging and adapted to align the adjoining portions of the respective upper section side walls, said plate formed of spring material and being anchored in a socket formed Within the cornice, and a wedge adapted to be inserted in the socket for springing the plateinto aligning position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

SAMUEL SMILEY, JR. 

